Delicious meals delivered for a Vibrant life

Main menu

Monthly Archives: March 2017

If you have ever had a conversation with Feed Your Vitality owner, Ashley Nanney, you likely know that our priority is to assist individuals in their journey to better health. We like to do that in any way possible, the most common being meal preparation and delivery. We have seen many successes from our customers including, but not limited to, weight loss, disease management, and improved energy.

We strive to support people even when they choose to do their own cooking (more power to you!). For years we have offered cooking demonstrations, tips and tricks classes, and cookbooks to help you be successful at home. Another option for customers is one-on-one nutrition coaching services. Nutrition coaching is one of our most recent services and is perfect for people looking for guidance and support in reaching their goals. Our registered dietitian, Ali, sits down with each client and gets to know them through a behavior analysis, nutrition assessment, and food record. After learning more about the person, she identifies barriers to their success and creates an individualized plan to reach health goals. Follow-up visits are all about assessing progress, identifying challenges, adjusting goals, and diving deeper into the health journey.

Ali is currently finishing her master’s degree in nutrition and exercise science at Southeast Missouri State University. Her specialties include weight loss, food allergies, and eating disorders. Some of Ali’s major successes include a 25-pound weight loss, elimination of diabetes medication, and decreased social anxiety when it comes to eating in public.

If you think nutrition coaching could be right for you, feel free to reach out to us using the information below!

It seems like everyone I talk to these days is taking a supplement of some type, whether it be a multivitamin, protein supplement, or omega-3. Talking about it with people can make you second guess whether you too need the supplement or if you are fine without it. Here are some general guidelines that can assist in choosing the right supplement for you.

Decide if you need it. I always laugh when I talk to athletes who want to start taking a protein supplement. A 170-pound athlete needs approximately 90 grams of protein per day (more or less depending on their sport). This amount of protein is high for the average person and can be met by consuming 6 ounces of chicken, 3 eggs, 1 cup of milk, and 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. It is not unrealistic for someone to eat this much protein a day, eliminating the need for supplementation.

A general rule of thumb: if you can get nutrients through food, do it! If you are having trouble with that, consider supplementing.

Determine the supplement safety. Supplements are strange products because they are not regulated by the FDA like food is. Because of this, supplement manufacturers are not held accountable for the ingredients and safety of supplements (yikes!). To learn more about that, watch this John Oliver video that explains some flaws of the supplement industry. I like to look up supplements at nsf.org, the Public Health & Safety Organization’s website. They analyze supplements to ensure the claims on the bottles are true and that all ingredients inside the container are listed on the label. If these requirements are met, the product will receive an NSF safety certification. Their website is easy to use – you can search for a supplement (e.g. “probiotic”), and the website will list their certified products.

Talk to your doctor. This is especially important if you have a medical condition or prescription. Some supplements may have side effects that can worsen your condition, while others may alter the effectiveness of certain medications. If you have an upcoming surgery or dental procedure, make sure to disclose that you are taking a supplement when you schedule the appointment –you may be asked to stop taking the product for 1-3 weeks prior to prevent side effects like excessive bleeding.

Is there a maximum dose? While rare, some nutrients can cause negative side effects when used in excess. For example, large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids are linked to colon cancer, vitamin A deficiency (think poor eye health), and vitamin D deficiency (weakened calcium absorption). Unless recommended by your doctor, never take more than the manufacturer’s recommended dose.

Email Subscription

Owner of Feed Your Vitality, LLC
Ashley Nanney started this business with one goal in mind: To make it as easy as possible for people to lose weight, reduce inflammation and increase their vitality.
"After becoming very ill in 1998, I was awakened to the idea of restoring my health through nutrition and alternative medicine. I had no other choice at the time. My daughter was two years old and I was informed that I was going to die if something didn't change quickly. I was in and out of the hospital on a weekly basis and not sure there was any hope. I felt that I had done this to myself. It honestly seemed easier to keep gaining weight and give up than to even try to lose the weight. I was sick, tired, 97 pounds overweight, and honestly, I felt hopeless.
I think hearing that I was actually going to die caused something to click. I wanted to be there to see my daughter grow up.
I became passionate about researching food, nutrition, and wellness. With the help of preventative medicine, I changed my diet and started to see positive results. It took several years (and losing the 97 pounds) but I finally was feeling and looking well again. Naturally, everyone wanted to know how I did it. This began my journey as a personal chef preparing meals in client's homes and has grown over time to what we are today, a company dedicated to helping others lose weight and regain their vitality through nutrition.
Feed Your Vitality is my opportunity to it pay forward. It is the opportunity to support people who are facing weight loss or health issues in their journey toward feeling better and experiencing the vitality they are meant to enjoy. It’s the opportunity to help create meaningful work for the families we employ, by rolling up our sleeves and working together. It is the chance to facilitate partnership, by being a good community partner. In short, to make a difference every day big or small. If we can support your vitality, it is our pleasure to do so."
Feed your Vitality is committed to serving only vibrant, whole foods, made with the freshest ingredients. It is our commitment to provide you with foods that are naturally free of the additives and preservatives found in most commercially prepared foods. All of our meals are are meticulously prepared to meet the requirements of doctor's recommendations.
We are committed to supporting your journey
in the most convenient and delicious way possible.